The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print
operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a
leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.
The celebrations lasted three days. Nyangoma K’ogelo Primary School, renamed President Barack Obama Primary School, was literally in a lockdown. Among the thousands of merry makers on the school ground were villagers, journalists, secret service agents and tourists.
More than 80 bulls, countless goats and chicken were slaughtered as K’ogelo village celebrated the election of its favourite son — Barack Hussein Obama — as the first black President of the US. Ecstatic Ohangla musicians sang for long hours as big television screens mounted by the Standard Media Group beamed results of the US elections. The party kicked off on November 5, 2008.
Kenya and K’ogelo had assumed a special position in the world. Expectations hit the roof as villagers envisaged an economic boom from the US. President Obama defended his seat in 2012, and won his second and last term.
With President Obama’s presidency coming to an end, K’ogelo is in the news again as locals discuss his legacy. There is evidence of change and more change throughout the village.
“K’ogelo village has taken a huge leap since President Obama rose to power. The village has woken up because of the many tourists coming here. Roads have been tarmacked and many NGOs have set base here,” says Nicholas Rajula, a businessman.
Residents are proud of their son, saying he has created eternal goodwill for the village. The area now has electricity, enhanced security and piped water. “These developments have comebecause of his name. Besides the many tourists who come visiting, motorists travelling to Siaya from Kisumu now use this road because they want to see the village,” says William Oguna, 32.
Silvanus Ngonga, 23, a trader, is a proud man. “Who knew that local roads would be tarmacked in this once sleepy rural area?” he asks.
Another resident Stephen Otieno, 33, capped it all when he disclosed that in the past people would not walk through the area at night. “Muggers and rapists ruled the nights on the now busy K’ogelo–Ndori Road,” he recalls, adding, “Not any more”. The road is now tarmacked and is safe to ply 24 hours.
With the many on-going development projects going on in the area, youth are assured of employment. To cope with the many tourists visiting K’ogelo, the Siaya County Government has opened tourist offices in K’ogelo, just a few metres from Mama Sarah’s home.
The national government has also put up a Sh100m Obama Cultural Centre near the home for tourists. The centre archives artifacts and history of the Luo community.
join